Statement from the Board of the Canton Community Association

Like many other communities around the country and around the world, the Canton community is grappling with our own tortured history of racism and slavery. We must face up to the fact that while Captain John O’Donnell, the founder of Canton, was a pioneer, entrepreneur, and innovator he was also a slave owner. And, that the 11 acres of land east of Harris Creek that Captain O’Donnell purchased and turned into colonial farmland, was in fact a plantation. The truth is the Canton of today was built by the slave labor of our African American ancestors.

As a Board, we recognize that this conversation has taken far too long to come about and for that, we are accountable, to ourselves and to our fellow community members.  It has also resulted in us as a Board taking an in-depth look at our own makeup and recognizing that there simply are not enough diverse voices and perspectives in our leadership. We must and we will endeavor to do better.

It is also important to state that conversations about the history of Canton and Baltimore, including how it should be accurately retold, should be organic and should ultimately come from the community and be the product of all local voices. Many of these important conversations have already begun and we have no interest in altering or usurping that dynamic. As a Community Association we see our role as facilitating and promoting difficult and important conversations that help to place the history of Canton in its appropriate historical context with accuracy and honesty. We also hope that the conversations themselves will assist in making us all more educated, open-minded, and connected neighbors.

To say we are being “proactive” would be to give ourselves far too much credit. But we have put together a series of action items intended to bring about real and lasting change. And we need your help.

First, we will be putting together a working group focused on modifying the “History” section of the Canton Community website to provide more historical accuracy and context. We will be very intentional about ensuring that all of the appropriate voices are uplifted as a part of this discussion.

Second, the Canton History Project is finalizing the next set of Historic Markers to be unveiled, one of which will commemorate the site of Fredrick Douglass’ train journey and escape from slavery in 1838. We will be working with the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park and Museum in Fells Point to designate the importance of this momentous event via a symposium on race and slavery and the history of Baltimore. We intend to utilize the services of the same working group to craft the important language of these Markers.

Third, it is our hope and intent that this working group, with the assistance of the broader community in Canton and throughout Southeast Baltimore, will convene a series of conversations aimed at addressing the various historical sites in Canton, including the Markers erected to date and the statute of Captain John O’Donnell that resides in O’Donnell Square in order to determine whether each site should remain as is, be amended or modified, or be removed in its entirety and potentially donated to a location in which it can be preserved in the appropriate historical context. We know that these will be very challenging conversations with much energy and emotion that will take time. We see that as a good thing and hope to foster respectful and important dialogue.

If you are or know a Baltimore historian with knowledge of African American history in East Baltimore, or if you are person of color working toward making sure history is documented and represented accurately throughout our community, please contact us at info@cantoncommunity.org.

Finally, if there are any additional changes or conversations that you as community members wish us to pursue, we are open to your suggestions, thoughts, concerns, and criticisms.

Sincerely,
The Board of the Canton Community Association